Serving Kansas City (Wyandotte County) Kansas for over 50 years!
Guest speakers at the Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast Zoom meeting May 15 will be Kansas Treasurer Lynn Rogers, State Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-5th Dist., and State Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore, D-36th Dist.
The internet meeting begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. The meeting is open to Democrats.
For details about how to connect to the meeting, email scottmackey08@yahoo.com or visit the Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast page on Facebook.
Blood donors in selected American Red Cross blood drives this summer will receive T-shirts and will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper.
James Van Der Beek, an actor, and his wife Kimberly have joined with the Red Cross to encourage healthy people to donate blood or platelets.
As the nation gets back to some of its former activities, a Red Cross spokesman stated that there is a concern about the effect on Red Cross blood donor turnout and the blood supply this summer.
In thanks for making the blood donations, those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in May will automatically be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban Propane, via their SuburbanCares initiative. The Red Cross is also thanking those who come to donate May 28-June 13 with a limited-edition T-shirt, while supplies last.
The Van Der Beeks said that blood donations have saved the lives of pregnant women needing transfusions.
Individuals of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility, a spokesman stated. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
The Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.
Upcoming Red Cross blood drives in Kansas City, Kansas, include:
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21, the New Bethel Church, 745 Walker Ave.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 26, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.
• 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 2, Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive.
The Unified Government Ethics Commission is accepting written applications for ethics commissioners.
Ethics commissioners live in Wyandotte County and are appointed by the Ad Hoc Ethics Commission Appointment Panel. The panel includes Chief Judge Robert P. Burns, Wyandotte County District Court; Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark A. Dupree Sr.; and Thomas L. Wiss, legislative auditor for the UG.
Wyandotte County residents who are interested in serving on the UG Ethics Commission may submit a written application to the Office of the Legislative Auditor by 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 23. The written applications should be sent to Thomas L. Wiss, legislative auditor, Unified Government of Wyandotte County – Kansas City Kansas, 710 N. 7th St., Suite 140, Kansas City, Kansas 66101.
According to a UG spokesman, members of the Ethics Commission are unpaid and must be a Wyandotte County resident of good moral standing and reputation. Ethics Commission members would serve one 4-year term.
The spokesman stated the purpose of the Ethics Commission is to recommend ways to improve the UG’s Ethics Code, to review and report on any and all violations of the ethics code, to render advisory opinions on questions of ethics, conflicts of interest, and the applicability of the code of ethics, according to the spokesman. The Ethics Commission meets monthly.
All applicants are required to include a brief written statement as to why he or she desires to serve on the Ethics Commission and a brief written resume accompanied by a listing of public service work. The contents of all applications will be held in strict confidence by the Ad Hoc Panel, according to the spokesman.